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Appropriate Grasses for the Texas Panhandle

Ornamental grasses are an important component of our landscape. Whether planted in mass, forming waves or drifts, sprinkled among herbaceous beds and borders, or as single specimens, grasses add texture, color, and motion to every landscape. Laying back on a breezy summer and fall day just listening to the rustle of leaves as the wind moves through their leaves is one of the more pleasing sounds one encounters in the natural world. As grasses combine naturally with broad-leaf plants in prairies, savannas, and meadows throughout the world, so are they essential in designed landscapes. This image is so imprinted in our mind, that a landscape without grasses and grass-like plants appears lacking. When dancing in our Panhandle wind or rhythmically swaying with a gentle breeze, the incorporation of grasses into the home landscape infuses the design with soothing images of nature, whether the style is formal or informal.

Ornamental grasses are clumping forming grasses called bunchgrasses, rather than turf or sod forming grasses, grasses that run. Many ornamental grass species can be used in beds or borders as accent or focal point to provide structure, separation and contrast, for line, form and seasonal interest in an unlimited number of designs and styles. In the fall when sunlight shines lower in the sky, back-lit plumes of ornamental grasses are particularly stunning. Additionally, ornamental grasses are useful for land reclamation in difficult alkaline and saline soils and for erosion control. Be mindful of any grass that increases by stolons and rhizomes--your flower bed is not the best location. As with any plant, match the grass to its purpose and location.

A Grass to Ornament any Micro-niche

With over 11,000 species of grass to choose from, there are ample grass selections for every soil, and micro-niche in any size, shape, height, texture and color to fit your need and desire. Small tufted grass to tall bamboo or reed like grasses in tawny tans, metallic blues, rusty reds, amber yellows, dark as black to nearly white, solid, striped and variegated grasses are available with a little researching.

Native grasses are an important habitat plant, providing food and shelter to large and small animals, insects and birds. Many animals find shelter from predators; increasing the species diversity in any area. Many provide nutritional grazing and forage.

Warm and Cool Season Grasses

Grasses are divided into two categories, cool and warm season grasses. Cool season grasses green up as soon as the temperatures rise above freezing and are the first to bloom, usually in June. Warm season grass wait until the weather warms to begin to green up, as late as April and May, depending on the spring. Growth accelerates in the summer and blooms in late summer and early fall.

Grasses are also classified into C3 and C4 plants. C4 plants are more efficient than C3 plants at taking up atmospheric carbon dioxide and converting it into the starches and sugars vital to plant growth. ( C3 and C4 refer to the number of carbon atoms in the first molecular product of photosynthesis.) Generally, C3 plants are woody plants, annuals and cool season grasses. C3 plants use carbon dioxide directly from the air in photosynthesis, represent nearly 95% of the Earth's plant biomass and loose up to 97% of the water they take up from the roots to transpiration. C4 plants takes in carbon dioxide during the night and uses it during the day, similar, but not the same, as succulents (which use the CAM process to photosynthesize, uses roughly 12% of water that C3 plants use ). A C4 plant is more adapted to environments with higher temperatures (averaging at and above 86ºF), drought conditions (using 40-55% of water that C3 plants use) and lower CO2 concentrations than are C3 plants. Forty six percent of grass species are C4 grasses; C4 grasses require less water. (NSW Department of Primary Industries and Crop Agriculture Review).

Native grasses are an important habitat plant, providing food and shelter to large and small animals, insects and birds. Many animals find shelter from predators; increasing the species diversity in any area. Many provide nutritional grazing and forage. Native grasses combine naturally with forbes in prairies, savannahs, and meadows throughout the world. A landscape without grasses would be truly desolate.

Few Maintenance Requirements

For all the benefits grasses offer, they seek precious little in return. Grasses are for the most part, disease and pest free, especially when placed in a location that meets their needs. Many ornamental grass species do not require supplemental irrigation, especially warm season grasses native to the western half of the U.S. Grasses native to riparian areas require more. However, many grasses are quite versatile, adjusting their growth depending on the water received each year.

By far, grass is a sun requiring plant. Most warm season grasses do better in part sun and full sun locations, with cool season grasses preferring afternoon shade in our climate. Grasses grown in shady locations will exhibit less flowering and pluming depending on the amount of shade/sunlight received.

Maintenance requirements for ornamental grasses are quite low. Once established (which usually occurs quickly for native grasses), grass roots grow deep and wide. Studies have shown that roots of grasses grow deep about twice the height of the grass (including flower stalk). In late winter (late February, early March), cut off last year's grown to about 2-3 inches of ground level and compost these leaves or use in vegetable gardens.

There are a few evergreen grasses used in home landscapes -- those should not be cut off. Lightly rake out dried and spent stems.

Remove any dead growth that could form in the center of the clump, or even the outside of the clump. Clump forming or bunch grass can be divided in late winter through early spring, while the grass is dormant (not yet greening up and growing). Simply slice through, dividing the root ball in half, thirds or quarters, depending on the size of the clump, and transplant or share with friends. Dividing and transplanting grass once it begins to grow is much riskier.

Because the roots of grasses grow deep, they are able to bring up nutrients that broadleaf plants can't. Warm season, drought tolerant grasses require minimum replenishment of organic matter. Medium and high water-use grasses benefit from an annual addition of an inch or two of compost in the bed, either spring or fall.

Then just sit back in your lounger and listen to the wind.

Turf grasses require more care. Please refer to the sections on turf and turf care.

Grasses

Andropogon geraldii, Big Bluestem, perennial, drought tolerant, warm season, ornamental clump forming bunchgrass, 3-8' tall, depending on moisture. Native to tall grass prairies throughout North America. Can be aggressive in the long term in moister settings.

Andropogon smithii, Western Wheatgrass. Cool season perennial grass that spreads by rhizomes and spreads too densely to be used as an ornamental. But a good ground cover grass; forms a solid cover. Not necessarily heat tolerant unless supplied with more moisture. Coarse wheat-like seed plumes.

Aristida purpurea, Purple three awn grass. Warm season bunch grass that can spread over time. Limit reseeding by cutting off seed heads if used in flower beds. Heat and drought tolerant. Slender purple-reddish leaves from May until the summer heat begins, then the color fades to a tawny blond. Grow 6 inches tall forming 8 inch clumps, with plumed grass about 2 feet tall.

Bouoteloua curtipendula, Sideoats gramagrass. Upright native, warm season, clumping grass. Designated the State Grass of Texas is 1971and is widespread throughout the US (really, from Canada into South America). Grows up to 30 inches tall. Large seeds hang from one side of a stiff stem. (Pictured on right.)

Bouteloua gracilis, Blue gramagrass. Perennial, drought tolerant, warm season sod forming grass of mid height; a dominant grass of the short grass prairie. Can be used with buffalograss for turf grass. Germinates quicker than buffalograss, usually in 5-7 days. In areas of heat and drought, it can be clump forming, rather than sod forming. Mow to 4 inches high. Do not water excessively, can survive quite well on our rainfall. Eyelet seed head.

Bucheloe dactyloides, Buffalograss. Our North American native turfgrass, native to the shortgrass prairie and elevations below 7,000 ft. Sod forming warm season perennial grass grows to 4-6 inches tall. Spreads by stolons, will grow on most soils but prefers heavy clay soils to sand. Once a month mowing and watering, usually. Can be watered more often, if necessary.

Calamagrostis arundinacea, 'Karl Foerster' Karl Foerster Reed Grass. Cool season perennial bunch grass. One of the most erect ornamental grass, up to 3 ft, with plumes to 5 ft. One of the first ornamental grasses to plume out. Average garden soil with low to medium water. Will perform better with supplemental watering.

Distichlis stricta, saltgrass, desert saltgrass. Warm season sod forming grass up to 8 inches tall, spreads by rhizomes. Native to parts of western US, it tolerates saline and highly alkaline soils up to 9.6 pH. Good for reclamation of poor soils.

Eragostis tricodes, Sand lovegrass. Native east of the Rockies to most of the US. Mid height clumping, warm season perennial grass. Lovely ornamental summer blooming grass.

Festuca arundinacea, turf type tall fescue. A common perennial cool season turf grass over much of North American, including the Texas Panhandle. High water-use turf. Many varieties available.

Pennisetum alopecuroides, Fountain Grass. 'Hameln' is a typical variety sold locally. Cold hardy, warm season clumping ornamental grass, up to 4' tall and 2 feet wide. Attractive bottlebrush or caterpillar shaped plumes in summer. A number of other pennisetums are grown, even the non-cold hardy Purple Fountain Grass that is often replanted each summer -- good for containers.

Schizachyrium scoparium ’The Blues’, or 'Prairie Blues' little bluestem grass 2' x 15" wide. Shortgrass native warm season bunchgrass through out much of North America. 'The Blues' is an attractive blue selection. Also available in the nursery trade is 'Blaze' with striking fall red foliage.